TNT has given an early pickup order for a third season of hit drama Falling Skies, consisting of 10 episodes to air in 2013. TNT is currently about halfway through the second season of the show, which stars Noah Wyle as a history teacher turned resistance fighter with the 2nd Massachusetts Regiment, fighting off alien invaders while trying to discover what it is they want.

Series stars Noah Wyle, Moon Bloodgood, Will Patton, Drew Roy, Connor Jessup, Colin Cunningham and Sarah Carter will be appearing along with executive producer Rene Aubuchon at San Diego Comic-Con for a panel moderated by Wil Wheaton on Friday, July 13th, at 4:30pm PT in room 6BCF at the San Diego Convention Center if you are attending.

From the press release:

TNT has ordered a third season of its epic original series Falling Skies, from DreamWorks Television and executive producer Steven Spielberg. The critically acclaimed drama starring Noah Wyle finished its first season last year as basic cable’s top new series of 2011. Currently averaging 5.9 million viewers, the series ranks as basic cable’s #1 summer drama with adults 18-49. TNT has ordered 10 episodes Falling Skies‘ third season, slated to air in 2013.

“Falling Skies is television storytelling at its very best, a powerful drama that’s told on both an epic scale and on a deeply personal level,” said Michael Wright, president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). “With all the memorable and surprising moments taking place during the second season of Falling Skies, we can’t wait to see what DreamWorks Television and Falling Skies‘ terrific production team and cast members have in store for season three.”

Falling Skies, which currently airs on TNT Sundays at 9 p.m. (ET/PT), chronicles the devastating aftermath of an alien attack that has left most of the world completely incapacitated. In the months since the initial invasion, the few remaining survivors have banded together outside major cities to begin the difficult task of fighting back. Each day is a test of survival as citizen soldiers work to protect the people in their care while also engaging in an insurgency campaign against the occupying alien force, whose nature and purpose remains a mystery.

Noah Wyle stars in Falling Skies as Tom Mason, a former college professor and father of three, who has become an unlikely leader for the 2nd Massachusetts civilian resistance group. Moon Bloodgood also stars as Anne Glass, a pediatrician who works with the survivors to help them cope with the traumatic upheaval in their lives. Will Patton plays Weaver, a fierce military leader of the resistance and Tom’s commanding officer. The series also stars Drew Roy as Hal, Tom’s oldest son and a growing fighter in the resistance movement; Connor Jessup as Ben, Tom’s middle son who was rescued from the aliens and now uses his unique abilities to help the resistance; Maxim Knight as Matt, Tom’s youngest son, who wants to grow up ahead of his time; and Seychelle Gabriel as Lourdes, an orphaned pre-med student who helps Anne in the group’s makeshift medical clinic. Mpho Koaho and Peter Shinkoda play Anthony and Dai, two resistance fighters in the 2nd Mass.; Colin Cunningham is John Pope, the head of a gang of marauders called the Berserkers; and Sarah Carter is Maggie, a wary survivor from Pope’s gang.